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events

Highlights from the 2026 Palm & Pyranha Park Jam 2026

October saw the return of the Palm & Pyranha Park Jam, a series of events designed to bring paddlers together from across the UK. This year followed successful events in Germany (which I attended and you can read about here) and Norway. At Park Jam team paddlers and special guests visit whitewater courses around the country to share skills, encourage progression, and inspire the next generation of kayakers.

Park Jam began as ‘Bren’s Park Jam’ before Bren Orton asked for it to become something bigger than any one person. Although Bren is no longer with us, his legacy lives on through the community spirit that Park Jam creates and Park Jam will always be special for this reason.

It was a privilege to be part of Park Jam 2026. Here is my account of the two incredible weekends of events that I was involved in.

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Interviews

An Interview with Sal Montgomery: Kayaking, TV Expeditions and Having the BEST DAY EVER


Ever since Sal Montgomery was a little girl, she has been known for her adventurous spirit and her drive to live life to the fullest. For Sal, adventure is not something that you do but instead a way of a life.

Sal is a professional whitewater kayaker, expedition leader and adventure safety specialist. She has travelled through some of the world’s wildest environments, from Bhutan to Kamchatka, tackling unexplored rivers and supporting major TV expeditions alongside well known figures such as Steve Backshall and Bear Grylls.

I met Sal through kayaking many years ago and having cherished her infectious energy and positivity in my life ever since. I was delighted when she agreed to be involved in this blog so that I would be able to share a little of what makes Sal so special with you all.

This interview explores how Sal went from childhood adventures with the Scouts to leading world class expeditions. She opens up about the pivotal turning points in her life, overcoming injuries, her work as a member of Mountain Rescue and the mindset that keeps her chasing ‘the best day ever.’

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Categories
Guest posts Interviews

Raised on the Kaituna: An interview with Red Bull kayaker Zack Mutton

Growing up on the banks of the Kaituna river with a kayak designed for him before he had even been born, Zack Mutton was never far from whitewater. With Kenny Mutton as his Dad, a Kiwi paddler and kayak designer, Zack’s path into the sport was set early. Today, he’s one of the world’s most progressive whitewater kayakers, pushing the sport into places few have gone before.

I met Zack during the Palm and Pyranha Park Jam series last October. While he’s currently recovering from two broken arms, he kindly took some time to chat for this interview.

In this interview, Zack talks openly about life as a professional kayaker, the people who shaped him, and the mindset behind his biggest goals.

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events General

Behind Every Kayaking Event Is Someone Giving Up Their Weekend: The Truth About Volunteering In Paddlesports

Kayaking events, from club nights to national competitions, run on volunteer power. Without volunteers, kayaking as a sport and a community simply wouldn’t exist. This blog explores why people volunteer, what those roles actually involve, and why so many of us who are wearing those ‘volunteering shoes’ are feeling stretched thin.

If you’ve ever paddled at an event, someone gave their weekend to make it happen. Please read this article in appreciation of everyone who has ever given up their time to make our sport a better place.

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Categories
events Freestyle

The GB Freestyle Academy Camp 2026

August sees the return of the GB Freestyle Academy Camp which is a week long camp held in Nottingham. The camp is for junior paddlers aged 11-17 and this year 34 enthusiastic teenagers joined for the week. It was my fourth year helping to run the camp and honestl, I think it was the smoothest camp we have ever had!

I have already written a short write up for the camp on Kayak Session which you can read here, but I wanted to share a longer article on this blog so that I could include more of the personal stories and highlight moments of the week. Enjoy!

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Categories
Gear

Pyranha Storm Review: How It Compares to the Firecracker

I’ve been paddling the small Pyranha Storm kayak for a while now, and I’ve absolutely loved getting to know this kayak! As someone who also owns, and loves, the Pyranha Firecracker, comparing the two has been fascinating. They are both half slice kayaks and yet they feel so different from each other on the water. Figuring out where each one excels has been a lot of fun.

Before I get started on the review, I want to be transparent. Pyranha loaned me this Storm so I could try it and share my thoughts, but this isn’t a paid review. Everything here is genuinely my experience.

This review shares my honest impressions of the Storm from the perspective of a Firecracker paddler who enjoys playful river running. The question I get asked most often is simple: What do I prefer – Storm or Firecracker? By the end of this review, you’ll have my honest answer and the reasons behind it. Enjoy!

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Categories
Mind set

A love of learning: The ‘secret’ to progression in white water kayaking

‘I’m just so in love with learning at the moment!’ I excitedly shouted at my friend Matt as I paddled back into the eddy at Stanley Embankment. It was my first time paddling at this beloved tidal wave and I was having the time of my life! I had just tried to spin, caught an edge and dramatically got thrown upside down. As I rolled up on the messy eddy line, I was already thinking about my next surf. I knew what I had done wrong and was eager to try it again with a small change to see if it would make it better.

Something has shifted for me over the last six months. I’ve found myself in one of the most positive headspaces I’ve ever had for kayaking: playful, experimental, and genuinely comfortable with trying and failing. That mindset has quietly been transforming my paddling. I think I’ve made more progress in these last few months than I have in the last few years.

This article is a personal reflection on why that’s happening. It is about how embracing learning and small failures has reignited my confidence and accelerated my progression. I hope that, wherever you are in your own kayaking journey, some part of this resonates.

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Categories
General

What it’s really like to be in a relationship with a woman who loves white water kayaking

I’ve been kayaking for about twelve years, and for eleven of those, I’ve been in a relationship with another kayaker, Tom. We are actually married now. My friend Lewis once joked, ‘So many guys wish their girlfriends loved kayaking as much as they do… but they should meet you two and see what it’s really like. They might realise that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side!’

On paper, being with someone who shares your passion sounds perfect. In reality, when that passion is white water kayaking; an all-consuming, time-hungry, rain-dependent obsession, it means your relationship is going to be dominated by it. You won’t be a ‘normal couple’ doing ‘normal couple things,’ and honestly, that’s mostly fine.

After more than a decade of paddling white water and loving someone who paddles too, here’s what I’ve learned about what it’s really like to be in a kayaking relationship.

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Categories
Gear

Best Kayaking Gear for Summer: My Favourite Picks as a Paddler

The last two months have been HOT across Europe, with back-to-back heat waves. I’ve been very grateful that white water kayaking gives me an excuse to get on the water and cool off. Dressing well for summer paddling makes a huge difference, and my warm weather kit looks very different from what I wear in winter.

In this article I am going to share my favourite summer kayaking gear options, from what I actually use, why I use them, and when each piece works best.

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Categories
events ShePaddles

Llandysul’s ShePaddles Summer Celebration: Where Women Lift Each Other Up

I have always been a big fan of Llandysul Paddlers and the incredible community they have created in Llandysul so when Lydia from Paddle Cymru invited me to attend the ShePaddles Summer Celebration Festival, I of course said yes!

We had a wonderful weekend of sunshine, being out on the water and the opportunity to meet and connect with other women in the paddling community. This article is here to tell you all about it!

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